FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. — Fire and environmental crews were still working at the site of a battery recycling plant fire in Fredericktown, Missouri.
A fire heavily damaged Critical Mineral Recovery (CMR) on Oct. 30. Dangerous smoke caused evacuations in homes north of the town.
In a social media post from Monday night, the Fredericktown Fire Department explained that the Environmental Protection Agency was testing the air for particulates that could be dangerous.
Fire crews were trying to move debris from the site of the Critical Mineral Recovery plant in the days following the blaze. They have to move material, treat it, and allow it to cool before it can be removed.
The EPA continued to test the air for toxins. Several air monitors are in the region. In a news release, the EPA said increased levels of hydrogen fluoride were intermittently detected and attributed them to flare-ups during firefighting.
The EPA launched a website to share information with the public. It was available at response.epa.gov/cmrfire.
Another part of the cleanup is preventing runoff from the fire. Crews are using berms and trenches to keep water contained.
There was a large fish die-off reported in the area following the fire.
Community members in need of assistance or more information can reach the community hotline created by Critical Mineral Recovery at (314)-576-9134.
Fredericktown received 3.9 inches of rain Monday. 5 On Your Side reached out to CMR to see how firefighting efforts at the site progressed during the heavy downpours across the region on Tuesday. CMR did not immediately respond.
